title: Interest of the preliminary risk analysis method in a central sterile supply department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to improve its quality-assurance programme based on ISO 9001, the Central Sterile Supply Department of a public university hospital has performed a prospective risk analysis using the Preliminary Risk Analysis method (PRA). The objectives were the achievement of a global risk mapping related to the whole process of sterilising medical devices, and second, the implementation of corrective measures to reduce identified risks.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multidisciplinary team, formed in January 2008, validated results at each step of the study. During the analysis, 416 hazardous situations were identified, among which 81 were quoted first in priority and led to the description of 141 risk scenarios. The PRA team assessed 42 scenarios with risk ranking assessed as 'acceptable under control' or 'unacceptable.' They adopted 23 follow-up actions measures and 13 safety parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PRA constitutes an appropriate tool for assessing quality-improvement policy and safety in healthcare facilities that can be easily integrated into standard quality-management systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France. lainejuliette@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niel-Lainé
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonan
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talon
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desroches
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prognon
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vincent
mesh_terms: D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013242:Sterilization / Q000458:organization & administration*